from the face of the earth] Hee seemeth by this speech out of feare to speake now (as out of wrath and envy he acted his part before) like a distracted man: for how was he to be driven from the face of the earth when he was to be a vagabond upon it? vers. 12. and how could he be hid from the face of God who saw into the secret corruptions of his heart? But if his words have any sound sense in them, it is this: from the face of the earth, that is, from the place of my birth and abode hitherto; or from the face of that earth (as the word Haadhamah will beare) on which I have dwelled untill now: Or, from the face of the earth, that is, from societie with the inhabitants of the earth, as Psalms 33:8. who will abhorre my company, and I shall be afraid and ashamed to come in their sight, or to looke them in the face. and from thy face] That is, from thy favourable countenance: so that thou wilt not vouchsafe a gratious glance towards me, nor accept of any oblation from me. Some thinke there is an Hypallage in the words, that is, a kinde of mistake, as if he would or should have said, I shall hide my face from God, as not daring to come before him to offer up any sacrifice or service unto him; for otherwise there is indeed no hiding from God, nor flying from him, Psalms 94:9. &Psalms 139:7. every one that] Though hitherto we have read but of foure persons in the world, Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, this being about one hundred and thirty yeares from the Creation (as Chronologers account it) there might be now many, of whom he might stand in bodily feare; or, if there had been none of his owne kind to avenge the bloud of his innocent brother, his guilty conscience might raise fearefull apprehensions of death from the beasts of the earth. slay me] Being more carnally then spiritually minded, he feareth more for his body then for his soule; and his owne wickednesse makes him imagine he should meet with a murderer in every place; selfe-guiltinesse in some is the chiefe motive to suspition of others, Psalms 50:21.